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Irinotecan (CPT-11) looked like a very promising drug in the test tube and with other cancers, so it was tried IV in clinical trials with Avastin. It did slightly better but probably not worth the extra side effects. This project looks at a different way to get the drug into the brain at a higher concentration without hurting the rest of the body. I love concepts like this. IF they can get a high concentration in the brain, it may work much better.
Integrins are receptors on the cell membrane that help a cell communicate with it's enviorment. This article shows that there are various subtypes found on primary and metastatic tumor cells which may open up a new target to use for treatments. There is an Integrin blocking drug in trials for GBMs now (Cilengitide). Perhaps the trials should be extended to metastatic tumors.The early trials in GBM did not show significantly improved results but I wouldn't write this drug off yet - they need to find the best way to use it. I picture it as part of a cocktail approach.
I need everyone's help on this. You can help raise a lot of money for brain tumor research just by clicking a button on twitter.
From our friends at Monmouth (NJ) Medical Center - a free seminar on Rehab
Sorry for the short notice. Sounds like a nice event this thursday!
Interesting. Best part is the drug is available (off label).. may be worth starting a human trial of it.
This is a very exciting abstract. They may have found why the tumor becomes resistant to Avastin, and possibly a way to stop it.
Amazing - a 9 year old girl raised $7,000 for us by getting a haircut! You can help up the total by going to virtualtrials.com/shavetosave
This study shows that participating in a clinical trial - ANY trial - results in a better outcome than not participating in a trial. I have always said this but here is the proof. It may have to do with being watched closer when in a trial - even if you are in a control group. Your scans and pathology reports get second opinions and they spend a lot more time reading them knowing that you are in a trial.
This is one of my favorite experimental therapies. It is a gene therapy delivered by a virus that only infects tumor cells. They are now testing a new system of administration to try to cover the entire tumor.
This is a very small trial but shows that this new treatment may be worthwhile. It is a new type of minimally invasive laser surgery. It is already approved and in use in a few centers across the country. Go to http://www.monteris.com/ for details.
The Wall Street Journal picked up the press release about our twitter campaign! Please help out with this. Every time my message on twitter gets retweeted, Novocure will donate $5 to the Musella Foundation and $5 each to 2 other brain tumor organizations, up to $10,000 per organization. This literally takes 2 seconds if you already have a twitter account. Search for:
@AlMusella
and look for 1 of the tweets about the event. Hover over the message and a menu appears. Click RETWEET then Click OK.
You can do it every day and ask your friends to do it also!
Exciting results from another brain tumor vaccine!
This is the easiest fundraiser we ever had! Just retween one of our tweets with the hashtag #TuneIn2GBM and Novocure will donate $5 to the Musella Foundation and 2 other organizations (Up to $10,000 per organization)! Please ask all of your followers on twitter to do the same!
Another new center that offers the Novocure system!
This is a list of the fundraisers we are running to help raise money for research!
This is my favorite patient conference of the year (of course I am biased because it is mine:).. Always worth attending!
This is a new set of tools which may help the neurosurgeon remove more of the tumor with less damage.
This is an article from the IBTA BRAIN TUMOR magazine about our online support group!
